Photographic camera.



No. 7|6,02|. Patented Dec. l6, I902. W. F. FULMER.

PHOTOGRAPH; CAMERA.

(Application filed Feb. 17, 1902.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

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A TTORN S THE mam", arms co, PHOTO LITP1Q. msmwww. n. c

No. 7l6,02|. Patented Dec. [6, I902.

W. F. FOLMER.

PHOTUGRAPHIG CAMERA.

(Application filed Feb. 17, 1902.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet -2.

IN VENTOfi WITNESSES No. 7|6,02l. Patented-Dec. I6, 1902.

W. F. FOLMER.

PHOTDGRAPHIG CAMERA.

(Application filed Feb. 17, 1902.\ (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shoot 3.

W/ TNESSES IN VENTOH wllz'am 2132mm In. 5)

Tu: NORRIS PEYERS co, momu'mmwunmnrcu, a. c.

N0. 7l6,02|. Patented Dec. [6, I902.

W. F. FOLMER.

PHOTOGBAPHIC'CAMERA.

(Application flied Feb. 17, 1902.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shut 4.

- A 77'OBNE Y8.

tree STATES.

PATENT PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,021, dated December1 1 2- Application filed February 1'7, 1902. Serial No. 94,475. (Nomodel.)

My invention relates to photographic carneras, particularly reflexcameras; and the purpose of the invention is to provide forautomatically setting the shutter while depressing the mirror and makingthe exposure automatically when the mirror is released.

Another purpose of theiuvention is to provide means for automaticallyopening the diaphragm to a full aperture when setting the mirror andpermitting the operator to diaphragm the lens to whatever stop it may bedesirable to use.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an automatically-foldingself-contained focusing-hood, means for insuring the box beinglight-proof during the manipulation of the mirror and the operations offocusing and exposing the plate, and also to provide side arms forguidingthe front in its outward movement.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part'ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a camera having theimprovements applied, the section being practically on the line 1 1 ofFig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the camera, the front beinginhorizontal section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken practically onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the rodfor opening the diaphragm of the lens to its full extent when the mirroris set and which is operated by the controlling mechanism of the mirror.Fig. 5 is a detail view of the springbutton for manually controlling thelens-diaphragm; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the focusing-mirrorand light obstructing or excluding board in their locked position, a

portion of the mirror beingin section. Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig.6, the focusingmirror and light obstructing and excluding board being,however, shown separated; and Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectionthrough a portion of the camera-box and through the focusing-mirror andlight obstructing or excluding board.

A represents the box, and B the movable front, of the camera. The box isprovided with an upper cover (3 in two sections 10 and 11, the sectionsbeinghinged one to the front and the other to the rear portion of thebox. The section 10 is the larger and main section, and when closed uponthe box the smaller section 11 closes against it. At the end of the maincover-section 10 opposite the hinge a downwardly-extending flange 12 isformed, having an opening therein surrounded at the outer face of theflange by an eye-shield 13, and within this opening the upper end of acollapsible focusing-hood 14 is secured to the walls of the opening 15,produced in a horizontal partition 16, located in the upper portion ofthe box near the top. This partition extends from the back wall of thebox to a point near its forward wall, as is shown in Fig. 1, and at theopening 15 a ground glass 17 is held in any approved manner. The mainsection 10 of the cover 0 is shown held open by pivotally-connectedlinks 18 and 19, pivoted to the cover-section 10 and to the inner sideface of the box, one link having a stop 20 to engage with the other linkwhen the links are in the same longitudinal'plane.

The bottom 21 of the box does not extend quite as far rearward as thetop back portion, whereby an overhanging section 22 is provided, as isshown in Fig. 1, upon which the section 10 of the cover is hinged. Aplate 23 extends up from the bottom of the back is formed exteriorly inthe back around the opening to receive a frame 27, carrying a groundglass 28, between which frame and the outer face of the back of the boxthe plateholder is to be introduced, the frame 27 beingspring-controlled in its forward-and-rearward movement, as is customary,to admit of the introduction of the plate-holder and to retain the samein position. The frame 27 back of the plate-holder is provided with ahinged or removable backboard 29, so that the rear ground glass may beused for focusing when desired.

A rear chamber D is formed in the box A by carrying the front partitionupward from the bottom 21 to the upper partition 16, preferably to thatpoint where the forward lower portion of the focusing-head 14 issecured, thus obtaining, an extension 16 of the upper partition 16beyond the front of the chamber D, which extension 16 engages with theflange 12 of the cover-section when the latter is closed, as is shown indotted lines in Fig. 1, and also serves to shut light from an opening31, produced in the front partition 30. The bellows B is suitablysecured to the front of the vertical partition around the openingtherein, the opposite end of the bellows being shown secured to thewalls of an opening 32 in the rear portion of the sliding front B.

The rear chamber D is provided with an auxiliary bottom 35 forstrengthening purposes and with inner side walls 34, removed a slightdistance from the main side walls 33; but the auxiliary side walls 34,while extending from the bottom of the chamber D, terminate short of thetop of the chamber, usually about on a line with the upper wall of theopening 31 at the front of the chamber, as is shown in Fig. 1.

A shaft E is journaled in the side walls of the chamber D at its upperrear portion,'as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This shaft extends beyondone side of the body A and at that end is provided with a handle 36,anda spring 36. is attached to the shaft and box in such a manner as toturn the shaft E in an upward direction after the shaft has been turneddownward and released or at such time to carrythe handle 36 from a lowerto the upper position.

A focusing-mirror 37, setin a suitable frame 38, is secured by knuckles39 or otherwise to the shaft E, as is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and themirror and its frame normally rest upon a light-obstructing board 40,having knuckles 41 or their equivalents (see Figs. 6 and 7) looselymounted upon the shaft E. The mirror-frame and the light-obstructingboard are normally held in close relation usually by a springlatch-plate 42, secured to one side edge of the board 40, having itsfront end outwardly curved, as is shown in Fig. 6, which latch-platenear its free or curved end is provided with a slot to receive a stud43, carried by the mirror-frame. When the mirror is in viaoi use forfocusing, it occupies the downwardly inclined position (shown in Fig. 1)in longitudinal alinement with a similarly-inclined partition 44 at thelower front portion of the chamber D, and as the shaft E is at a pointin line with or slightly above the upper wall of the front opening 31 ofsaid chamber and the upper edge of the lower partition 44 is about on aline with the lower edge of said opening when the mirror andlight-obstructing board are in their lower position engaging the lowerpartition 44 the exposed plate in the plate-holder will be perfectlyshielded from light from the front; but in order to insure a perfectlylight-proof box shields 45, of any suitable material, are secured to theside edges of the light-obstructing board, as is shown in Figs. 1, 6,and 7, and these shields move in the spaces between the outer andauxiliary side walls of the mirror or focusingchamber D. After focusingand just before an exposure the mirror and the light-obstructing boardare automatically carried to and take the upper position. (Shown indotted lines in Figs. 1 and 6.) When the mirror is to be used forfocusing, it and the light-obstructing board are carried downward bymoving the handle 36 of the shaft E in that direction, and in order thatall light from the front shall be cut off from the back as soon aspossible the lightobstructing board in its downward movement isseparated from the mirror-frame and drops quicklyin advance of themirror-frame. The board is separated from the mirrorframe through an arm46, secured to the main side 33 of the chamber D, as is shown in Fig. 5,which arm occupies such a position that as the board and mirror-framedescend one end of the arm will engage with the inner face of the frontcurved end of the latch 42 and disengage the latch from the keeper 43 onthe mirror-frame. At such time the board, which is loosely mounted onthe shaft E, is forced downward by the action of a spring 47, coiledaround the shaft E, as is shown in Fig. 2, and having bearing at itsends, respectively, in a downward direction against the upper face ofthe light-obstructing board and in an upward direction against the undersurface of the mirror-frame, the said spring 47 acting to force thelight-obstructing board downward from the mirror-frame when the lockingengagement between the two said parts is broken. When thelight-obstructing board reaches its lowest position, (shown in positivelines in Fig. 1,) it is held in such position by a spring-latch 48,secured at one end to the lower portion of the outer face of anauxiliary side wall 34, and the upper end of the springlatch 48, passingthrough the auxiliary side wall 34, enters an opening 49 in thelight-obstructing board, as is shown in Fig. 2, and the upper end ofsaid latch 48- is provided with an aperture adapted to receive a stud50, projecting from a wall of the opening 49 when the light-obstructingboard reaches its lowest position. As the handle 36 of the shaft E iscarried farther downward the mirrorframe is brought in contact with theupper face of the light-obstructing board and is again connectedtherewith by the latch devices 42 and 43, so that when the lower latch48 is disengaged from the board 40 the spring 36*, controlling theupward rotation of the shaft E, will immediately act to carry theconnected mirror and board to the upper position, (shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1,) and at this time an exposure of the plate or film occurs, aswill be hereinafter explained, the shutter being automatically broughtinto action across the plate through the upward revolving movement ofthe shaft E. The lower latch 4.8 is released from engagement with thelight-obstructing board 40 through the medium of the push-button 52,operated from the outside of the box and shown in Fig. 1 as connectedwith the extension 51 from the latch. In order to prevent any leakage oflight to the plate as the mirrorand board ascend, a curtain-strip 53 issecured to the front face of the partition 30 above the upper edge ofthe opening 81 therein, the curtain-strip extending downward somedistance in front of the said opening.

In connection with the camera-box I have shown in Fig. 1 acurtain-shutter which is the subject-matter of patents granted to meNovember 5, 1901, No. 686,045, and August 5, 1902, No. 716,507, whichshutter, briefly, consists of upper rollers 67 and 75 and correspondinglower spring-rollers 78 and 79. The upper roller 67 and the lower roller79 are respectively distributing and receiving rollers for the rearcurtain F of the shutter, and the upper roller 75 is thereceiving-roller, and the the lower roller 78 the distributing-roller,for the forward curtain F of the shutter, which shutter consists,primarily, of the said two curtains. Connections are made between themirror-frame and the shutter to automatically set the shutter whiledepressing the mirror and make an exposure automatically through themovement of the mirror from focusing position, which is preferablyaccomplished by suitable gear connection between the shaft E and one ofthe upper-roller shafts of the shutter.

Then the mirror 37 is brought into focus ing position, it causes thediaphragm of the lens to be automatically brought to a full opening.This is accomplished through the medium of the actuating-arm 96, whichis held to turn in a suitable space made in the inner face of one sidesection of the box, as is shown in Fig. 2, and, illustrated in Fig. 4,this arm is made in two telescopic sections a and a, which while slidingfreely one in the other turn together. The inner end of the section a,of the actuating-arm 96 is provided with acrank member 97, which extendswithin the mirror-chamber D in the downward path of thelight-obstructing board 10, as is shown in Fig. 1, so that the saidcrank member 37 is depressed when the board 40 reaches its lowermostposition, causing the actuatingarm to rock, and a second crank member 98at the outer end of the section a of said arm 96 will also be depressed,as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and will engage with and depressan elbow-lever 99, fulcrumed at the front B, causing said lever, whichis pivotally connected with the diaphragm of the lens 100, to open thediaphragm to its full extent, as is also shown in Fig. The lever 99 whenthus operated places the controlling-spring 101 under tension, and thespring serves to carry the lever 99 in a direction outward to close thediaphragm when the light-obstructing board 40 commences to ascend, thusreleasing the operative parts of the board and mirror from such extraduty. As the lever 99 returns to its normal position it will engage witha stop G, previously set in the diaphragm-plate 103 at the front B, sothat the lens is automatically diaphragmed as desired before theexposure takes place. Preferably the diaphragm-plate is provided witha'longitudinal slot 10%, crossed by the lever 99, as is shown in Fig. 3,and apertures 105 are produced at one side of the slot, andcorresponding stop members appear upon the plate 103 at the oppositeside of the slot.

The stop G is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 11 and consists ofa pin 106, which is freely passed through the slot 104 in thediaphragm-plate 103. This pin is provided with a fixed head 107 at therear of the said plate 103, but is threaded at its outer end to receivea nut. A barrel 109 is loosely passed around the pin, the inner end ofthe barrel being permanently closed except where the pin 106 passesthrough, while the outer end of the barrel is closed by a cap 108,preferably screwed therein, and a spring 110 is coiled around the pin106, bearing against the inner head of the barrel and against the saidnut. At one side of the barrel a projection is formed, carrying a stud111, adapted to enter any one of the apertures in the diaphragm-plate103, and at the opposite side of the barrel a pointer 112 is located,adapted to engage the member corresponding to the aperture in which thestud 111 is entered. The stop G may be readily moved up and down thediaphragmplate by simply drawing the barrel outward to removethe stud111 from the aperture into which it may have been placed.

Side bars 113 are secured to the side portions of the front B, providedwith rack-teeth in their under edges, which side bars slide in suitablegrooves in the sides of the box A. Each side bar 113 is provided alsowith upper and lower longitudinal grooves at their inner faces,receiving the horizontal members of angle-strips 114, secured to theinner faces of the side sections of the box, as is shown in Fig. 3,whereby the front is guided in its outward and inward movement and isheld against vertical and lateral displacement. The front is carried toand from the box A through the medium of pinions 115, secured to theshaft 116, mounted in the forward lower portion of the box and providedat one" end with the usual finger-piece or knob 117. Alens-board 118 israised and lowered by securing a rack 119 to its front face, as is shownin Fig. 3, which rack is engaged by a pinion 120, carried by atension-controlled shaft 121.

I desire it to be understood that the links 18 and 19 are in duplicate,being at each side of the hood 14, and that the pivotal connectionbetween the links at both sides of the hood consists of a rod 122, whichwhen the hood is up or in position for focusing engages with the frontcentral portion of the hood, so that when the section 10 of the cover Ois to be lowered it is simply necessary to push the rod 122 rearward,which action will break the joints between the links 18 and 19, and therod by being brought in rearward contact with the hood will serve toautomatically fold the hood upon itself, so that it may readily assumeits proper folded position in the box A.

In the operation of the camera the curtains of the shutter are adjustedthrough the me dium of the shaft 66 to obtain the desired opening in theshutter, and the tension is set to obtain the requisite speed of theshutter. The front 13 may now be advanced by manipulating the shaft 116,and the stop device Gis set in position upon the diaphragmplate 103, andeither then or after the abovenamed adjustments the focusing-hood iselevated, as is shown in Fig. 3, and the plateholder is placed inposition at the rear of the mirror-chamber D. The handle 36 is nowcarried downward, whereupon the light-obstructing board 40 is releasedfrom the mirror 37 and is quickly carried to its lower inclined positionby the spring 47, preventing any light from the front reaching the rearportion of the mirror-chamber, and at the same time the actuating-arm 96is operated upon to cause a full opening at the lens. The mirror nowreaches the light obstructing board and is again locked thereto, thesaid board being retained in its lower position by the spring 48, and atthis time the focusing operation is carried out. The slide is now drawnfrom the plate-holder and the button 52 is pressed, releasing theattached mirror and light-obstructing board, and these connected partswill be instantly carried upward by the spring 36 of the shaft E, placedunder tension when the handle 36 is carried down, and as the mirrorascends the spring 101, acting on the lever 99, connected with thediaphragm of the lens, will carry the actuating-arm 96 to its normalposition, and the lever 99 will engage with the previously-set stop G,and thus bring about the desired opening at the lens.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In cameras,afocusing-mirrorand frame, and alight-obstructing board, a rocking support on which one is attached andon which the other is loosely mounted, a tension device between themirror-frameand light-obstructing board, tending to separate the two, alatch connection between the mirror-frame and light-obstructing board,means in the path of the mirrorand board for releasing the latch, andadevice for automatically locking the light-obstructing board andmirror-frame in focusing position, which device is released from suchlocking engagement from the exterior of the camera-box.

2. In cameras, a spring-controlled shaft, a focusing-mirror and frameattached to the shaft, a light-obstructing board below the mirror,loosely mounted upon the shaft, and a tension device exerting pressurein opposite directions on the mirror-frame and lightobstructingboard,alatch connection between the mirror-frame and board, a releasingdevice for the latch, a retaining-latch for the mirror-frame and board,adapted to hold the mirror in focusing position, and means for releasingthe retaining-latch from the exterior of the camera-box, as set forth.

3. In cameras, a focusing-mirror and frame and a light-obstructing boardhaving common support and arranged for connection and separation atdifferent stages of their movements, and a tension device interposedbetween the mirror-frame and board, tending to separate such parts,substantially as described.

4. In a camera, a focusing-mirror and a coacting light-obstructingboard, said board he ing provided with attached light-obstructingshields, as set forth.

5. In cameras provided with a focusingchamber and an opening at the rearof the chamber to receive plates orfilms for exposure, a springcontrolled shaft mounted in said chamber adjacent to and at a pointabove the upper wall of the plate-receiving opening, the said shaftbeing manually operated in one direction from the exterior of thecamera-box, being spring-controlled in an opposite direction, afocusing-mirror and frame, an underlying light-obstructing board, themirror being fixed to the shaft and the board loosely mounted thereon,aspring interposed between the mirror and board, tending to separate thetwo, a latch connection between the mirror and board, a releasing devicefor the latch, a retaining-latch attached to the sides of said chamberand arranged for automatic engagement with the said board when the boardand mirror are in a lower position in the chamher and the mirror is infocusing position, and means, substantially as described, for releasingthe retaining-latch, as set forth.

6. In cameras provided with a focusingchamber and an opening at the rearof the chamber to receiveplates orfilms for exposure, aspring-controlled shaft mounted in said chamber adjacent to and at apoint above the upper wall of the plate-receiving opening, the

said shaft being manually operated in one direction from the exterior ofthe camera-box, being spring-controlled in an opposite direction, afocusing-mirror and frame, an underlying light-obstructing board, themirrorframe and being fixed to the shaft and the board loosely mountedthereon, a spring interposed between the mirror and board, tending toseparate the two, a latch connection between the mirror-frame and board,a releasing device for the latch, a retaining-latch attached to the sideof said chamber and arranged for automatic engagement with the saidboard when the board and mirror are in a lower position in the chamberand the mirror is in focusing position, means substantially asdescribed, for releasing the retaining-latch, and light-obstructingshields carried by the light-obstructing board and arranged for movementbetween the main side walls of the chamber and inner auxiliary sidewalls thereof, as set forth. 7

7. In cameras, a diaphragm for the lens, and a focusing-mirror mountedfor pivotal movement, and a connection between the mirror and diaphragm,whereby the diaphragm is operated through the movement of the saidmirror, as set forth.

8. In cameras, a diaphragm for the lens, a lever connected with thediaphragm,a focusing-mirror mounted for pivotal movement, anactuating-arm capable of rocking movement, and extensions from the saidarm, one of said extensions being in the downward path of thefocusing-mirror and the other in engagement with thediaphragm-lever,whereby the lens-diaphragm is automatically operated toproduce a full opening at the lens when the mirror is carried tofocusing position, as specified.

9. In cameras, a diaphragm for the lens, a spring-controlled leverconnected with the diaphragm, a diaphragm-plate and a stop adjustable onsaid plate in the path of the lever, a focusing-mirror mounted forpivotal movement, a telescopic actuating-arm capable of rocking movementand provided with crank extensions, one of which extensions is in thedownward path of the mirror, the other extension having engagement withthe said diaphragm-lever, whereby when the mirror is brought to focusingposition the diaphragm of the lens is fully opened, and when the mirroris returned from focusing position the lens-diaphragm is automaticallyset for an exposure, as described.

10. I11 cameras, a lever, a diaphragm therefor, an operating-lever forthe diaphragm, a diaphragm-plate, a manually-operated stop adjustableupon said plate in the path of the diaphragm-lever when moving in adirection to close the lens-diaphragm, a focusing-mirror mounted in thecamera-box, and an actuating-arm mounted to rock in the said box,

which arm is telescopic, being acted upon by the mirror in its movementto focusing position and released when said mirror returns from saidposition, said arm being in operative connection with thediaphragm-lever, as described.

11. In cameras, a curtain-shutter, a pivotally-mounted focusing-mirror,manually operated in one direction and spring-operated in the otherdirection, and connections between the mirror and shutter, substantiallyas described, whereby to automatically set the shutter while depressingthe mirror and make an exposure automatically through the movement ofthe mirror from focusing position.

12. In cameras, a curtain-shutter, a pivotally-mounted focusing-mirrormanually operated in one direction and spring-controlled in the oppositedirection, a lens and a springcontrolled diaphragm therefor, a mechanismsubstantially as described for setting the shutter while depressing themirror and making an exposure automatically through the movement of themirror from focusing position, and a connection between the mirror andthe lens-diaphragm, whereby the diaphragm is set fully open through themovement of the mirror to focusing position, and the spring of thediaphragm is free to act to stop the lens when the mirror returns fromits focusing position and just before the time the exposure is made, asdescribed.

13. In cameras, a focusing-mirror having a lightobstructing boardarranged for locking engagement therewith and to drop in ad- Vance ofthe mirror when the latter is being carried to focusing position, as setforth.

14. In CtmGlLSyt folding focusing-hood, and means operated by themovement of the cover of the camera-box for automatically opening thehood when the cover is raised and automatically folding the hood whenthe cover is closed, substantially as described.

15. In cameras, a camera-box having an opening leading to its interior,and a cover to close over the said opening, a folding focusing-hoodsecured at one end to the walls of said opening and attached at itsopposite end to the cover, pivotally-connected links at each side of thehood pivotally attached to the box and cover, and a rod constituting apivotal connection between both sets of links and engaging transverselyWith the hood for the purpose of folding the same and placing the linksof the sets at angles to each other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. FOLMER.

Witnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, J NO. M. BITTER.

